WEDDINGTON, N.C. – Three batters into Tuesday’s conference showdown between Marvin Ridge and No. 1 Weddington, the Mavericks got all the offense they needed.

Lexi Kirby followed an Ella Tracy double with a two-run home run to center field. The early momentum helped jolt Marvin Ridge to a 4-1 victory to hand the reigning 4A runner-up its first loss of the season.

Kirby’s blast put the Warriors in a hole before they had a chance to step to the plate. Once in the box, Anna Phifer kept them off balance to the tune of five strikeouts and only five hits.

Phifer retired the first seven batters that she faced. In the third, she wiggled out of a jam after allowing two to reach.

The senior Lander recruit washed away a lead-off double in the fourth by setting down three straight, then allowed her only run of the night in the sixth when Ava McCauley plated Emersyn Presutty with two down in the frame.

McCauley’s RBI single put a dent into what was then a 4-0 game. Addison Studney gave Marvin Ridge insurance in the fifth by reaching on a two-out error that brought home Tracy and Hannah Ziecik.

Tracy scored twice and registered three hits. The top of the Mavericks’ order (Ziecik, Tracy, Kirby) went 7-for-10 with all four runs scored and two driven in.

Weddington tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh with a one-out double, but Gabby Sperduto snagged a line drive to second and started a game-ending 4-6 double play to seal the win.

Phifer earned the victory with her complete game effort. Joella Thomas was charged with the loss; she struck out seven.

Marvin Ridge improved to 11-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play. The Mavericks entered the game having dropped two of their last three.

Weddington fell to 12-1 and 3-1 in league play. There is currently a three-way tie for first place in the Southern Carolina standings with 3-1 Cuthbertson.

These two teams will meet again on April 17 in Marvin. The Mavericks play Cuthbertson on April 8, and Weddington hosts the Cavaliers on April 15.